Advertisement
UK markets close in 7 hours 32 minutes
  • FTSE 100

    7,723.47
    +0.92 (+0.01%)
     
  • FTSE 250

    19,472.17
    -14.36 (-0.07%)
     
  • AIM

    736.40
    -0.23 (-0.03%)
     
  • GBP/EUR

    1.1699
    -0.0005 (-0.04%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2691
    -0.0037 (-0.29%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    49,825.04
    -3,701.85 (-6.92%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,149.42
    +32.33 (+0.63%)
     
  • DOW

    38,790.43
    +75.63 (+0.20%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    82.49
    -0.23 (-0.28%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,154.50
    -9.80 (-0.45%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,003.60
    +263.20 (+0.66%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    16,529.48
    -207.62 (-1.24%)
     
  • DAX

    17,966.16
    +33.48 (+0.19%)
     
  • CAC 40

    8,154.96
    +6.82 (+0.08%)
     

Republicans: Trump Is 'Presumptive Nominee'

The chairman of the Republican National Committee has declared Donald Trump the party's "presumptive nominee" after the property mogul's resounding victory in Indiana.

The billionaire businessman won 53.3% of the vote to 36.6% for his chief rival, Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

The drubbing prompted Mr Cruz to announce he was ending his campaign - leaving Ohio Governor John Kasich as the only other Republican challenger.

On the Democratic side in Indiana, Hillary Clinton was defeated 52.5% to 47.5% by rival Bernie Sanders , who vowed to fight on despite being mathematically out of the race.

ADVERTISEMENT

Following Mr Cruz's departure, RNC chairman Reince Priebus declared Mr Trump the party's "presumptive nominee" on Twitter.

He urged Republican voters to "unite and focus on defeating Hillary Clinton".

:: Donald Trump: What's Next After Indiana Win?

Mr Kasich's campaign issued a statement on Tuesday night saying he will remain in the race unless a candidate locks up the nomination before the convention in July.

Indiana's Blackford County Republican Party Chairman Jack Beckley told Sky News it was time for Mr Kasich "to admit defeat".

"The people have made it very clear that they are sick and tired of politicians and business as usual in Washington DC," he said.

"The people have spoken. We need to unite."

The latest victory will put Mr Trump over the 1,000-delegate mark, with high stakes contests still on the calendar, including California next month.

Following weeks of rising tension between the Trump and Cruz camps, the New York business magnate softened his tone on the conservative Texas senator.

During his victory speech, Mr Trump called Mr Cruz "one hell of a competitor".

"He is a tough, smart guy, and he has got an amazing future. I want to congratulate Ted. I know how tough it is."

For Mrs Clinton, the defeat to Mr Sanders in Indiana does very little to hamper the former Secretary of State's path to the nomination.

At this stage of the campaign, Mr Sanders has no chance of reaching the 2,383 delegates needed to win, but the self-described democratic socialist has vowed to continue his campaign.

"The Clinton campaign thinks this is over. They're wrong," he said.